BMKG Prepares Cloud Seeding in Java to Anticipate Extreme Drought

The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) is preparing strategic measures in the form of Weather Modification Operations (OMC), scheduled for early October. This step is being taken to anticipate potential water shortages caused by a dry season predicted to be hotter and drier across the island of Java.

BMKG Deputy for Weather Modification, Tri Handoko Seto, revealed that this intervention is crucial to increasing rainfall intensity. The objective is to ensure the availability of water supplies in major reservoirs that support the agricultural sector and basic community needs.

“Currently, the main reservoirs in Java, such as the Saguling, Cirata, and Jatiluluhur reservoirs in the Citarum basin, and those in the Brantas river in East Java, are still in a safe position. However, a deficit is likely in September-October, so we will conduct modification operations in Java in early October,” said Seto during a briefing following the Clean Water Distribution Operation in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Seto explained that the OMC plan has been coordinated with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). This aligns with the declaration of drought emergency statuses in several regions across West Java, Central Java, and East Java.

Based on BMKG’s climate analysis, although western and southern Indonesia are currently experiencing rain, conditions will change drastically from July to mid-October. Rainfall intensity is projected to decrease significantly, exacerbated by the El Niño 2026 phenomenon.

In addition to focusing on Java, BMKG is also conducting parallel weather modification operations in other regions. Other primary focuses include maintaining water volume capacity in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, and the Poso region, Central Sulawesi.

The OMC intervention is not only aimed at food security but also serves as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of forest and land fires (Karhutla). By maintaining soil moisture and water availability, the potential for haze disasters in vulnerable areas can be minimised.

“The hope is that this weather modification operation can assist the agricultural sector and support human survival, especially for our brothers and sisters in Sumatra and Kalimantan who are vulnerable to the impact of haze,” concluded Seto.